Advocacy
Queens Park Day 2022
The food and beverage processing industry in Ontario plays a vital role in Canada’s food supply chain, linking primary agriculture producers to Canadian consumers by providing a remarkable choice of high quality, nutritious and safe food and beverage products.
As the voice of Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry, Food and Beverage Ontario ensures the province’s decision-makers stay informed of the issues, innovation, and programs that matter most to Ontario’s more than 4,000 processing establishments.
On December 6, 2022, Food and Beverage Ontario held a Queen’s Park day to meet with ministers and MPPs. With this event, the association facilitated opportunities for organizational members to speak directly with government officials about their business, the communities they serve, as well as critical topics of supply chain and labour.
To reflect the opportunities in the sector, FBO’s Queen’s Park event focused on 3 key items essential to industry growth and prosperity:
Training
Update curriculums and develop training and co-op pilots for grades 9 to 12, colleges, and universities. Offer dedicated skills training and micro-credential programming, specifically in the areas of automation and technology.
Attraction and Retention
Commit to multi-year agreements for funding for programs such as CareersNOW! and the recently announced Grow Ontario. The industry needs sustained funding for at least 5 years to address this crisis. This includes programs to attract new hires from underrepresented groups as well as accelerated pathways to permanent residency for new Canadians and residents working in the sector.
Automation
Ontario’s food and beverage processing industry continues to be forward thinking when it comes to industrial automation. However, automation can be a costly endeavour—especially for small to mid-sized establishments. The sector would benefit from funding programs and tax credits to promote the food and beverage processing sector as it adapts to becoming a leader in advanced manufacturing and automation.
FBO recognizes the support of Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, for sponsoring FBO’s Queen’s Park day in 2022.
Canadians trust food and beverage processors to produce high-quality and nutritious food and beverage products for themselves and their families. The industry’s capacity to deliver on this promise is thanks to the hard work of over 125,000 Ontarians working in this vibrant sector and the strategic support of industry partners.
